Planoorai ll co



T. F. FERRY.

' METHOD 0F PRODUCING woon SEPARATORS. APPLICATION FILED DEC; 7 I918.

1,3 12,243. Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

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THOMAS r. FERRY, or s'r. Louis, mssoear.

METHOD or PRODUCING woon snrnnnro'ns.

, Specification of Letters rarest.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

Applicatzuzun filed December 7, 1918. Serial No. 26%,747.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. FERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Producing Wood Separators, of which the following is a specifica tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in methods of producing wood separators for storage batteries or the like, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved method for this particular purpose whereby the separator is provided with fibers on a roughened surface which tend to hold the crystal formation away from the separator and increase the likelihood of the fluid circulation breaking up the formation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of this general character wherein an initial step consists in cutting a veneer substantially at right angles to the sap lines of a log to increase porosity and thereby increase the path of conductivity of the electrolyte to reduce the path of resistance of the electric ions as they traverse the electrolyte.

The invention as herein disclosed more specifically embodies a method wherein a veneer is cut from a log by a rotary cut, and wherein such veneer is of such thickness that after the opposite faces of the veneer have been serrated or channeled on opposite faces, the veneer may be separated by sawing action along a line substantially midway between the serrated faces to produce separators each of which being provided with a roughened face.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of this general character whereby a wood separator for storage batteries or the like may be produced with despatch and economy, and whereby certain important advantages are attained.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

lln order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the initial step of my improved process;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of an edge of a veneer produced in the initial step of my improved method as herein embodied;

Fig. 3- is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating further steps of my improved method as herein embodied; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a completed separator.

In my improved method as herein disclosed a veneer V is initially cut from a log by a rotary cutting operation wherein the knife K is positioned substantially at right angles to the sap lines 0 of the log to increase the porosity of the completed separator and thereby increase the path of conductivity of the electrolyte and to reduce the path of resistance of the electric ions as they travel the electrolyte.

By producing a rotary cut veneer it will also be understood the choice part of the log is obtained, as the heart of the tree remains in the lathe after the veneer has been cut therefrom.

After the veneer V as particularly illustated in Fig. 2 is produced from the log the same is serrated or channeled on its opposite faces by passing the same through a suitable machine. The veneer is then cut or split along a line a between the serrated faces of the veneer by a suitable sawing operation, and which sawing operation results in the face I) of the separator, as is particularly illustrated in Fig. 4, being roughened, and which face is not. dressed. The fibers of the roughened face or surface I) tend to hold the crystal formation away from the separator and increases the likelihood of the fluid circulation breaking up the formation when the separator is applied within the storage battery or the like.

After the veneer has been split as indi cated'in Fig. 3 the resultant separators are subjected to the action of alkali or electrolyte of sufficient strength to remove acetic acid and all other injurious matter that may be detrimental to the plates of a storage battery or the like.

In producing the rotary cut veneer V the veneer is cut of a thickness to readily permit sawing operation and which results in a substantial elimination of waste as the knife K consumes none of the log during the cutting operation and there is less liability of the veneer tearing out or being otherwise injured during the serrating operation as rator for storage batteries or the like, which consists, first, in producing a veneer; second, serrating the opposite faces of the veneer; and third, separating the Veneer between the serrated faces to produce roughened backs.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. THOMAS F. FERRY. Witnesses:

MARY A. FERRY, MARTIN J. WALSH.

. the veneer possesses suflicient body to support or withstand the serrating operation.

I claim i '1. A method of producing a wood sepa- 5 rator for storage batteries or the like, which consists, first, in producing a veneer with its facessubstantiaily at right angles to the sap lines; second, serrating the opposite faces of the veneer; and, third, separating 10 the veneer between the serrated faces to produce roughened backs.

2. A method of producing a wood sepa- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

